Tomb of Horrors

The Tomb was constructed ages ago by Acererak, a powerful human-turned-lich, who ruled over death and undeath with merciless cunning. Before transcending his corporeal form to become a demilich, Acererak designed the Tomb as both a monument to his own wickedness and a testament to his intellect—a deadly maze that mocks and punishes hubris.

Acererak filled the Tomb with deceptions, puzzles, and lethal traps, daring the most arrogant of adventurers to enter. His goal was never to simply slay intruders, but to break them—mind, body, and soul—before consuming their essence to fuel his eternal power.

The entrance to the Tomb lies deep within a sunless stretch of the Vast Swamp, where the waters are black and sluggish, and the land itself seems to resist trespassers. The exterior is unassuming: a grassy mound topped with a black stone face, its mouth open in a mocking grin—a silent warning to all who approach.

Few maps show its location; fewer still have returned from its threshold. Most who seek it do so for pride, vengeance, or the promise of unimaginable treasure.

The Tomb is a labyrinth of corridors, false doors, and illusions, spread across a subterranean complex designed to confuse, mislead, and murder. It is not built for battle, but for mental torment and misdirection. Notable features include:

• The False Entrances – Multiple decoy tunnels lead only to traps or certain death.
• Deadly Traps – Pits with poisoned spikes, magical glyphs of annihilation, and death-inducing riddles abound.
• Puzzle-Rooms – Seemingly empty chambers contain hidden triggers, wordplay puzzles, or artifacts that punish curiosity.
• The Chapel of Evil – A macabre shrine filled with undead guardians and cursed icons.
• The False Treasury – Lavish but rigged rooms designed to lure and destroy the greedy.
• The Demilich's Lair – The final chamber, where Acererak’s jeweled skull resides atop a bone-strewn dais, surrounded by layers of magical wards and soul-trapping enchantments.

Acererak no longer exists in bodily form. His remains—just a skull and a few gems—float in his tomb, housing a spirit so vile and powerful that it needs no flesh. He no longer guards the Tomb actively; rather, the Tomb is Acererak—an extension of his will, absorbing the life force of those who enter and fall prey to it.

Even in apparent inactivity, Acererak is thought to feed on the souls of those who perish within, using them to fuel schemes that stretch beyond death—into the Outer Planes or realms unknown.

The Tomb of Horrors has passed into legend. Many adventurers speak its name in hushed tones, some as a challenge, others as a warning. It has become a symbol of ultimate peril, a place where bravery is tested and rarely rewarded. Those who claim to have entered and survived often bear grievous scars—or seem deeply changed.

Occasionally, rumors surface that Acererak has rebuilt or relocated the Tomb, or that he is using multiple false tombs as lures while his true crypt remains hidden elsewhere. Each time, the legends deepen, and the lure of its forbidden treasures continues to draw the bold and the doomed alike.